The first game focuses on rhythm and call and response. With the children all sitting in a circle or standing up in a circle, have them go around and say their names. Then as a class clap the syllables for each child's name while saying the name together as a group. Do this activity with each child till you're all the way back to you, the teacher, then say and clap your name together as well.
With the children in a circle, standing, the teacher or group leader plays a rhythm on their body using their hands and knees, feet, tongue clicks, finger snaps, etc. The group then responds by replicating the rhythm and the teacher or group leader can make the rhythms more complicated each time. Also, another way to play the game is to have each child play a rhythm with his body and have the class respond as indicated before.
Musical Simon Says is a great twist on the Simon Says game most children already know. The teacher or group leader is Simon and the teacher can use rhythmic body percussion as in the game before; short lyrics from well known songs (i.e. Mary Had a Little Lamb, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, the first part of the ABC's, etc); and even melodic syllables "do re mi" in different melodic and rhythmic combinations. The class then sings or claps back what Simon is saying. The rules of the game are the same but just with this musical concept inserted.